Abstract: A basketball assembly for supporting a backboard comprises, a base having a plurality of generally vertical side walls and a base face extending between said sidewalls. The base face and one of said side walls defining a forward edge. The assembly includes a pole, having spaced apart ends. An elongated opening is provided in the base for supporting one end of said pole on said base with said pole at an angle to the vertical to extend the other end of the pile over and beyond the forward edge of the base.

Abstract: A breakaway net attachment system for mounting a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal at predetermined locations along the rim. The system includes clips which are attachable to the rim and which include retainer portions for retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim includes a plurality of small mounting projections, which may be in the form of studs welded along an undersurface thereof for engaging within apertures formed in the clips whereby the clips are retained in engagement with the rim. In one embodiment, the clips are provided with fingers for retaining the net wherein the fingers will release the net in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net. In a further embodiment, the clip is adapted to be pulled off of the rim when a predetermined force is applied to the net.

Abstract: A basketball net clip for a breakaway net attachment system that detachably mounts a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal at predetermined locations along the rim. The net clips are resilient and include a base portion attachable to the rim and a retainer portion for detachably retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim preferably includes a plurality of studs located along an undersurface thereof for engaging within apertures formed in the clips whereby the clips are retained in engagement with the rim. In one embodiment, the clips are provided with fingers for retaining the net wherein the fingers will release the net in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net. In a further embodiment, the clip is adapted to be pulled off of the rim when a predetermined force is applied to the net.

Abstract: A breakaway net attachment system for mounting a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal at predetermined locations along the rim. The system includes clips which are attachable to the rim and which include retainer portions for retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim preferably includes a plurality of studs located along an undersurface thereof for engaging within apertures formed in the clips whereby the clips are retained in engagement with the rim. In one embodiment, the clips are provided with fingers for retaining the net wherein the fingers will release the net in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net. In a further embodiment, the clip is adapted to be pulled off of the rim when a predetermined force is applied to the net.

Abstract: A support assembly for supporting and orienting an elongated pole to extend at an angle to the vertical, wherein the support assembly includes a pole having spaced apart upper and lower ends, an intermediate point and a lower portion between the intermediate point and lower end. The support assembly also includes a base having a pivot axis, a point of pole engagement and an extension generally in the same direction as the angular extension of the pole when assembled on the base such that the pole and the base extension generally form two legs of an angle. The support assembly includes a support arm having spaced apart ends, wherein one of the ends engages the base in spaced relationship from the point of pole engagement on the base, and wherein an extension presents the other of the ends at the intermediate point on the pole when assembled so that the base extension, the support arm extension and the lower portion of the pole form a triangle.

Abstract: An elevator system for a basketball backboard comprising, in combination, a parallelogram frame and a backboard connected to the frame. A ratchet and pawl arrangement is connected between one of the arms and one of the vertical surfaces of the parallelogram frame so that a first vertical surface is freely movable upward relative to a second vertical surface and is held in a selected vertical position when the vertical lifting force applied to the first vertical surface is removed. The ratchet includes a plurality of ratchet teeth connected to and movable with one arm relative to the first vertical surface. The pawl is pivotally connected to the first vertical surface and disposed for engagement with the ratchet teeth to hold the first vertical panel in a selected vertical position when the vertical lifting force is removed.

Abstract: A base for a basketball support pole comprising, in combination, a plurality of walls arranged at an angle to each other and forming a polyhedron shaped body, support structure within the body defining an elongated opening extending into the body at an angle to the vertical and for receiving a support pole, structure for securing the pole in the opening against rotation about the elongated axis of the pole and against withdrawal from the opening, structure within the body defining a ballast receiving enclosure, and ballast within the ballast receiving enclosure.

Abstract: A basketball goal (14) and backboard (2) assembly are provided for shipment in a carton (120) having a girth plus longest dimension less than or equal to 108 inches, for shipment by common carrier. A backboard (2) is provided with reduced outside dimension for saving material cost, particularly fiberglass, yet still affording 92% of the playing surface area of a conventional board. Support bracket hardware (30) is provided with significantly reduced shipping height requirements, yet providing precise 90.degree. mounted orientation of the rim (20) relative to the backboard (2), by slight deformation of interlocking bosses (78, 80) in mating nested relation upon tightening of bolts (62 and 68) through mounting apertures (58, 60, 64, 66) subject to tolerance deviation which may otherwise deviate the position of the rim (20) from horizontal, particularly at the forward edge.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition comprised of a major amount of water, and a polymeric dye comprised of the reaction product of a water soluble polymer with a reactive dye.

Abstract: A tricycle which is capable of being converted either to a traditional high position in which a rider is seated relatively high on the frame, or to a low slung position in which the frame is inverted so that a rider is seated relatively low on the frame. To invert the frame, the a front fork and handlebar are removable from the head tube of the tricycle and invertible relative to the frame and the seat is adjustable between a high and low position corresponding to the high and low slung tricycle positions. A rear deck is attached to a rear portion of the main tube and is tubular in shape so that it fully and protects encloses the rear axle of the tricycle in both the high and the low frame positions. A seat is mounted on the frame and is capable of forward and rearward adjustment as well as upward and downward adjustment.

Abstract: A packaging and shipping assembly (12) is provided for a basketball rim (4), backboard (6), pole (8) and extension arm (10) all in one relatively flat outer carton (14) having a length and width approximately the same as the backboard (6). The pole is provided in three sections (16, 18 and 20). A first subassembly (40, 42) retains two of the pole sections (16 and 20) side-by-side in parallel along one side of the outer carton (14). A second subassembly retains the third pole section (18) and the extension arm (10) side-by-side in parallel along the opposite side of the outer carton (14). A third subassembly retains the rim (4) and mounting hardware within the outer carton (14) between the other two subassemblies. The backboard (6) lies flat over the subassemblies within the outer carton (14).

Abstract: A rim mounting plate (26) is mounted to a backboard mounting plate (12) by a resiliently biased release mechanism (16) including an adjustable control (20) and compression spring (18) for varying the breakaway release force and for automatically returning the rim to horizontal after a slam dunk. The rim has a pair of supports (46 and 48) extending downwardly from opposite undersides thereof and joined at a central portion (34) forming the pivot point adjacent the backboard. The backboard mounting plate has a lower portion (52) curled around the central portion of the supports and coined to provide a snug interference fit substantially eliminating vertical and horizontal free play at the pivot point.

Abstract: A tricycle which is capable of being converted either to a traditional high position in which a rider is seated relatively high on the frame, or to a low slung position in which the frame is inverted so that a rider is seated relatively low on the frame. To invert the frame, a front fork and handlebar are removable from the head tube of the tricycle and invertible relative to the frame and the seat is adjustable between a high and low position corresponding to the high and low slung tricycle positions. A rear deck is attached to a rear portion of the main tube and is tubular in shape so that it fully protects and encloses the rear axle of the tricycle in both the high and the low frame positions. A seat is mounted on the frame and is capable of forward and rearward adjustment as well as upward and downward adjustment.

Abstract: The handlebar for a bicycle or similar vehicle is clamped by a pair of pillow blocks which are bolted to a first plate which in turn is attached to the bicycle stem. The first plate has a portion stamped outwardly to form a second plate connected to the first plate and angularly disposed with respect to it. A rim is also pressed out of the plane of the first plate along the edge of the opening formed by stamping out the second plate, and an upper portion of the bicycle stem is received in the opening in the first plate and permanently attached to it by means of a fillet weld around the opening at the lower surface of the first plate. The undersurface of the second plate bears against the upper end of the stem and is bolted to it by a bolt that extends through the second plate and the stem.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle construction in which the saddle pan is attached to a one-piece saddle support which underlies and supports the pan. The support includes an upper plate and a downwardly extending skirt, and an intermediate section of the skirt is deformed inwardly to form a downwardly opening socket into which the upper end of a seat post is received and permanently fixed in place by welding.

Abstract: Liquid developer compositions for development of latent electrostatic images are disclosed. The electrostatic printing inks dry at ambient temperatures by penetration into paper leaving a continuous film having excellent rub resistance on the surface. The non-volatile, low viscosity inks comprise about 3-20% pigment and/or dye, about 5-35% of resinous particles having a size of 5 microns or less and having glass transition temperatures close to or below ambient temperature, said resinous particles being dispersed in the liquid carrier, 0-25% dispersing agent and about 25-90% non-volatile, high boiling organic liquid carrier and/or solvent.

Abstract: Liquid developer compositions for development of latent electrostatic images are disclosed. The electrostatic printing inks dry at ambient temperatures by penetration into paper leaving a continuous film having excellent rub resistance on the surface. The non-volatile, low viscosity inks comprise about 3-20% pigment and/or dye, about 5-35% of resinous particles having a size of 5 microns or less and having glass transition temperatures close to or below ambient temperature, said resinous particles being dispersed in the liquid carrier, 0-25% dispersing agent and about 25-90% non-volatile, high boiling organic liquid carrier and/or solvent.